Gunjan Storms Into Women's 48kg Final at Dakar 2026, India Earns Two Youth Olympic Gold Medal Shots

India's boxing campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games has received another major boost, with Gunjan Yadav advancing to the women's 48kg final after defeating Great Britain's Lily Bassett 4-1 in the semi-finals. 

Her victory ensures that India will have two boxers competing for gold, with Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei already through to the men's 50kg final. Gunjan produced a strong performance against Bassett on November 11, with four of the five judges favouring the Indian boxer. The 4-1 decision secured her place in the championship bout, where she will face Algeria's Bouthaina Bensalah for the gold medal.

The achievement gives India two opportunities to add Youth Olympic boxing gold to its medal tally, with both finalists scheduled to compete in the finals on November 12. Gunjan's progress is particularly significant as she becomes one of the leading young Indian boxers to watch at the Dakar Games.

The semi-final against Bassett was an important test for the 17-year-old Indian. With a place in the gold medal bout at stake, Gunjan delivered a performance that convinced four judges to score the contest in her favour.

The 4-1 verdict reflected her ability to handle the pressure of a knockout-stage contest and secure progression to the final. Her next opponent, Bouthaina Bensalah of Algeria, will stand between Gunjan and a Youth Olympic gold medal. The final represents the biggest opportunity of her campaign so far, with the Indian now just one victory away from achieving a major milestone in her young career.

Gunjan's qualification also ensures that India will have representation in both the men's and women's boxing finals at Dakar 2026.

From Haryana to the Youth Olympic Final

Gunjan's journey to the Youth Olympic stage has been built on an impressive record in domestic and international competitions. The 17-year-old hails from Dhana Kalan in Haryana and trains at the Manjeet Lohan Boxing Club in Hisar. She is a five-time National Champion, a record that highlights her consistency at the domestic level.

Her international experience includes a silver medal at the 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok. She also demonstrated her ability to compete against international opposition by defeating North Korea's Yu Gyong Kim 5-0 in the semi-finals of that competition to reach the world final. These performances helped establish Gunjan as a promising prospect in Indian boxing and earned her the women's 48kg quota for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Her progression from domestic success to the international podium and now a Youth Olympic final represents an important step in her development. At 17, she has already accumulated significant competitive experience and will now have the opportunity to convert that experience into a major international title.

Gunjan's achievement comes alongside an equally significant run by Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei in the men's 50kg category. The Manipuri boxer stormed into the final with a commanding 5-0 victory over Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo. His performance secured India at least a silver medal and ended a 16-year wait for an Indian male boxer to reach a Youth Olympic final.

Meetei will face Ireland's Kristian Jubani in the men's 50kg final, while Gunjan takes on Algeria's Bensalah in the women's 48kg contest. The presence of two Indian boxers in the championship bouts gives the country a significant opportunity to finish the competition with multiple gold medals.

It is also an encouraging indication of the talent emerging in Indian youth boxing, with athletes from different parts of the country reaching the final stage of a major international competition.

Two Finals, Two Opportunities for Gold

The boxing finals at Dakar 2026 are scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM IST on November 12. Gunjan will be aiming to overcome Bensalah and turn her impressive semi-final performance into a gold medal.

For the Haryana boxer, the final is an opportunity to add another major achievement to a career that has already included five national titles and international success. Her record provides a strong foundation, but the challenge against the Algerian will demand another focused performance.

Meetei will also be looking to complete his historic campaign against Jubani. Together, the two Indian finalists give the country two opportunities to celebrate Youth Olympic boxing success.

India's focus will now shift to the final bouts. Gunjan has already secured her place among the tournament's top two in the women's 48kg category. One more victory could make her a Youth Olympic champion and provide another landmark moment for Indian boxing.